Will there be another USA 'Miracle' on ice?

If decisively beating Canada in a heated preliminary round game on enemy soil is any indication, the USA are well positioned for a run at a gold medal.

I wouldn't quite call this a "miracle," but a medal of any colour will be considered a success for the young and feisty USA hockey team. This is no team of bushy haired college boys, but the USA are definitely inexperienced and were picked by many to finish well out of the medals. Now, the USA have almost assured themselves a medal round game.

In my Olympic Hockey Preview I stated that I felt like this could be another "Miracle" team based on the performance of goaltender Ryan Miller.

Against Canada, Miller was a difference maker standing on his head throughout the game, specifically in the decisive last minutes of the third period. Not only did the USA receive clutch goaltending from Ryan Miller, their young and fast forward corps featuring the likes of David Backas, Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, and Dustin Brown, was impressive.

Would I call it a "miracle?" No. I would call it a young and talented team coming of age on the world's biggest stage. Is Canada out of it? Not by a long shot, but they've made the road to gold more difficult then it seemed at the start of the Games.

Saying the USA will win Gold, or even medal is a little pre-mature, but this team that is beaming with young stars (and stripes) and have the potential to go wherever goaltender Ryan Miller leads them.

After beating the heavily favoured Team Canada at the Vancouver Olympics, Team USA has officially erased their "miracle" status and replaced it with "Olympic contender."

Let the games begin.

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Should Martin Brodeur be Canada's starter?

For anyone who watched the Canada-USA hockey game, you'll know there are questions about Martin Brodeur.

Is he still Canada's best goalie? Should his experience keep him in goal for Team Canada? Can he lead Canada to a gold medal?

The answer to each of these questions is no. Not if Canada's preliminary round game against the USA is any indication. Martin Brodeur allowed 3 goals on the first 15 shots. That is a .800 save percentage. That number wouldn't keep you in the net in the NHL, AHL, or a beer league. Canada lost 5-3 after outshooting the USA 45-23.

When he handled the puck (if you can call it that), Brodeur looked terrible and directly caused 2 of the 3 goals. The difference in the game was in fact goaltending, Ryan Miller played great, Martin Brodeur did not.

This is a point in the coaching career of Mike Babcock that will go down in history. Will he make the right decision and play Roberto Luongo the rest of the way, or will he hope the experience and reputation of Brodeur is enough to compensate for his poor play?

If Canada wins the Gold medal at the Vancouver Olympics, or any medal for that matter, you can bet it won't be because of Martin Brodeur. Rather, the team will have to put forward an impressive defensive effort in front of the aging goalie, and score enough goals to balance those he allows.

Please Mike Babcock, find it somewhere in your heart to play Roberto Luongo. He is Canada's goalie and Canada's hope for a gold medal. Let's get behind this hockey fans. We need to put Martin Brodeur out to pasture and let Roberto Luongo lead his team and his country to the Olympic Gold medal they so desperately want.

Let the games begin.

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Olympic Mens Hockey Preview

We're less than a week from the opening of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. One of the biggest question marks entering the games is who will walk away with Olympic gold in mens ice hockey. Here is a brief look at each team in the order I predict them to finish:

Gold Medal - Canada - Anything less than gold for the Canadian team and Steve Yzerman is unacceptable. Sidney Crosby has been dynamite lately and will be expected to lead this star studded lineup. Roberto Luongo should start in net, however, Canada has always been sentimental when it comes to legendary athletes and may choose to start Martin Brodeur. Luongo is the better goaltender and will receive huge backing from his home crowd in Vancouver.

Silver Medal - Sweden - I wouldn't expect Tre Kroner, reigning Olympic champions to go quietly into the night. This team is solid from top to bottom lead by Detroit Red Wings Niclas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterburg. One compelling story to follow is how Peter Forsberg performs. After making his return this season in the Swedish Elite League with Modo, Forsberg was chosen for his leadership and ability to change games. Watch for a last minute decision on Johan Franzen who was initially left of the Swedish roster but is apparently healthy. Don't count the Swedes out of the gold yet.

Bronze Medal - Russia - There is too much firepower on the Russian lineup to ignore. Fueled by Ilya Kovalchuk, Pavel Datsyuk, and Evgeni Malkin, the Russians could easily catapult into the Gold or Silver position, but could also flop and fall far from medal contention. I say this because the Russians were pressured to include a percentage of KHL players. The players, although solid, are not at the elite level of other nations' NHL players.

4th - USA - The United States will be a young and fun team to watch. I almost feel like they could be a surprise "Miracle" team. In the short tournament format, their young and dynamic lineup could flourish. Their fate rests upon young scorers such as Patrick Kane, and how well goaltender Ryan Miller plays. Recent injuries on the blueline likely won't impact the teams overall outcome.

5th - Finland - Goaltending, goaltending, and goaltending. Whether they start Niclas Backstrom or Mikka Kiprusof, this team will live or die between the pipes. Last Olympics, hot goaltending carried the team. With an aging forward corps led by Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu, the Finns will struggle to score and likely won't medal.

6th - Slovakia - I wish I could be more optimistic about the Slovaks, but they likely aren't deep enough. That said, this team could again surprise the international hockey world. Led by stars Zdeno Chara, Marian Hossa, and Marian Gaborik, and poised to enter with one of the NHLs hottest goalies Jaroslav Halak, the Slovaks could beat any team in a 60-minute game. Likely not in the medal hunt, watch for the Slovaks to win an upset or two.

7th - Switzerland - I like the Swiss team, I like their systems, and I firmly believe this is one hockey nation that is moments away from joining the "Big 7." Starring Mark Streit and Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller, this team could wreak havoc in Vancouver.

8th - Czech Republic - You might be surprised to see the Czech's this far down my list. I don't think they have the gusto anymore. Without a dominate Dominik Hasek in net, they are not the same team. There are too many unknowns on this lineup. That being said, if Jaromir Jagr is the same man we knew 4 years ago, and Thomas Vokoun can fend off the high powered attacks of opposing forwards, the sky is the limit.

The rest - After the top eight, the pickings get slim. I would expect the order of the remainder of the field to go something like this: 9. Belarus 10. Germany 11. Latvia, and 12. Norway.

What do you think?

Let the games begin.

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